Banasura

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Bana (also called Banasura (Sanskrit: बाणासुर)), in Hindu mythology, was a thousand-armed asura and son of Bali.[1] Banasura was a powerful and terrible asura. All people, even the king of earth and Devas of heaven, were afraid of him. Bana was a follower of Siva. Banasura ruled in present-day central Assam with his capital at Sonitpur (present-day Tezpur, Assam), Banpur, (U.P.). Banasura, having served Shiva, requested a boon. Desiring to fight, he asks Shiva who is a worthy opponent. Scorning his belligerence, Lord Shiva tells him that he will be defeated by Krishna. The demon is pleased, and awaits this fate with impatience. His flag falls during a battle occasioned by Aniruddha.

Banasura, a mighty asura once ruled over a large kingdom. So strong and fierce was his influence that all the kings and even some of the gods shuddered in front of his might. An ardent devotee of Lord Siva, Banasura worshiped Siva with great devotion. The Lord was so pleased with him that he asked Banasura a boon. The asura, in turn asked Siva to come and guard the gates of his city.

The Lord was furious but he had to give in to Banasura's wish, as he had already given his word to him. Bana was not only pleased with his achievement, but with Lord Siva himself at his service, he became all the more arrogant. One day Banasura told Lord Siva that he wanted to fight with somebody who was as strong and as mighty as him. "Yes, yes," replied Siva. "You will certainly get the chance to fight. Whenever you see your flag-staff broken and the flag fallen down then you will know that the chance for a fight is coming." But Siva also warned him, that he would be a great warrior who will curb Banasura's pride.

The Legend

The mythological connection of Banasur is related to Bamsu (Modern Name Lamgoundi) Village in Rudraprayag District of Uttrakhand. The name on the area in mentioned in Vedas too. This is to believe that Bamsu was the capital of Banasur. Still a famous temple for Banasur is there and Villagers of nearby villages such as Pasalat, Phoili. Dewli Bhanigram Including Lamgoundi use to worship Banasur especially as a rain GOD. For major evidence that Lamgoundi was the capital of Banasur there is not only a temple of Banasur, village have a small temple of Anirudhha, who was kidnapped by the daughter of Banasur named Usha as she was having some power or magic that who so ever she can see in her dreams, can be taken to her place. She had a dream about Anirudha and wish to marry with him. Anirudha was the grand son of Lord Kirshna. When he was kidnapped, Krishna plan to attack Banasur but by the time Anirudha and Usha was married in Usha Anirudha temple at Okhimath, the major temple of the area and where Lord Kedarnath use to stay when Kedarnath temple use to close for winter. Lamgoundi also known as Shonitpur and they have a Shonitpur Sanskrit College in the village. Looking to this aspect it seem that Banasur was actually belong to Bamsu (Lamgoundi).

Banasura's another mythological connection is related to Banpur, Madhya Desh - ancient Bundelkhand. According to ethics, Banpur was the capital of Banasura the king of demons and her daughter Usha Devi who was also a great devotee of Lord Siva Mahadev likewise her father. She was mid night devotee of the Siva Linga of Mahadev in Jamdhar river at present Kundeshwar. Being prayed by Usha Devi to the Mahadev to be visible to the rest of the world, Mahadev through the Askashwani assured Usha Devi that her wishes will be fulfilled. The Sivalinga worshiped by Usha Devi was emerged from the Kunda of Bagwar Kshatriya clan landlady called Kundeshwar Mahadev - the Mahakaal of Bundelkhand, and Bagwar - the Pandya of Kundeshwar, presently Disstt. Tikamgarh,(M.P.)

Bagwar is a Suryawanshi Kshatriya clan of early medieval period. The Baghwa - Lion rider ancestral from Banpur-capital of Banasura to the dense forest of Jamdhar river in Madhya Desh called Baghroha long back before Vikram Samvat 1201 (1144 A.D.) as engraved footnote found below the idol of Nandi of Mahadev. Being pronunced after the name of Banasura, Banpur and fame of Bagroha, their descendants are known as Bagwar, Badwar.

Usha in love with Aniruddha

Banasura had a beautiful daughter named Usha. While still young, a number of proposals came for her marriage, but Banasura accepted none. Wary that Usha might fall in love with men other than his choice, he kept Usha in a formidable fortress called 'Agnigarh' with her friends. Usha one day saw a young man in her dream and fell in love with him. Chitraleka was a friend of Usha and daughter of Kumbhanda, Minister of Banasura. Chitralekha was a talented artist who helped Usha to identify the young man seen in her dream, by sketching various portraits. She had dreamt of Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna. Chitralekha, through supernatural powers, abducted Aniruddha from the palace of Krishna and brought him to Usha. Usha and Aniruddha secretly married and lived together as husband and wife in the Agnigarh.

Fort of Banasur

In Kotha village of Sohanpur in Deoria district there is a mound which is said to be the fort of Banasur.Water flows through it in only one direction in which pieces of gold and silver has been recovered in the past. The field in which Lord Krishna fought with Banasur is also there. Sohagra a nearby place where the biggest Shivlinga of the country is there .It was the place of worship of Banasur.